One dead, three injured in Arkansas nuclear plant accident

An accident at an Arkansas nuclear power plant at 7:45 a.m. local time resulted in the death of one worker and left three injured, but did not cause radiation and it is not a public health risk, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.

"There was no nuclear release of any kind," said Ed Barham, a spokesman for the Arkansas Health Department.

The accident took place in Russellville, a city with 28,000 residents, about 81 miles from Little Rock.

“There is no danger to the public,” said Entergy Operations, Inc, owner of the plant, Arkansas Nuclear One, in a statement.

KTHV, a Little Rock television station, reported that residents heard a large boom at the time of the incident.

According to Entergy, part of generator fell as it was being moved and the plant automatically shut down.

The injured workers have been transported to a nearby hospital.

“Our greatest sympathy is with the family and friends of the employee who lost his life, and with those who sustained injuries,” said Jeff Forbes, executive vice president and chief nuclear officer.

The accident is classified as an "unusual event," the lowest of four emergency classifications by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Entergy said.

The company delivers electricity to 2.8 million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, has annual revenues of more than $10 billion and has approximately 15,000 employees.

Arkansas Nuclear One provides 30 percent of the state’s energy, according to the plant’s website.